ABSTRACT Context: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), or OSMF, is a well-known, potentially premalignant condition of the oral cavity. Monitoring OSMF widespread effects necessitate interventions in at-risk individuals, ideally before the disease becomes aggressive. Ascorbic acid and iron, for instance, are significant micronutrients in the pathogenesis of OSMF. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the significance of ascorbic acid and iron levels in serum and saliva in patients with premalignant disorder (OSMF) and to correlate variations in ascorbic acid and iron levels with histopathological grading. Settings and Design: The present study was conducted on 195 patients over a period of 10 months. Subjects and Methods: These patients were divided into two groups, Group I ( n = 88, Control), Group II ( n = 107, clinically diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed cases of OSMF). Serum and salivary ascorbic acid were analyzed by the dintrophenyl hydrazine method, whereas serum and salivary iron were analyzed by the dipyridyl method. Statistical Analysis Used: Paired t -test and Fisher test were used to compare between the mean and to find the level of significance P value. Results: The serum and salivary ascorbic acid levels consistently decreased with the progression of histopathological grading of OSMF. Serum and salivary iron levels were also decreased in OSMF patients, and it came as significant. Conclusions: Excess collagen synthesis during OSMF may have been promoted with ascorbic acid and iron. As a reason, serum and salivary monitoring may be significant in detecting and diagnosing OSMF early on.

Frequently, adolescents exhibit instances of immature necrotic teeth, which are identifiable by their slender root walls and unclosed root tips. The lack of a natural narrowing near the root's end creates difficulty when using standard endodontic procedures, making the effective sealing of the immature root canal difficult or impractical. Revascularization therapy surfaces as a prospective strategy for addressing the management of undeveloped, non-vital, immature, necrotic teeth. Notwithstanding this, apexification continues to hold prominence in the preferences of clinicians owing to its perceived predictability in treatment outcomes. A systematic investigation was conducted involving various search engines and databases, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. The main aim of this investigation was to find randomized clinical trials that compared the efficacy of revascularization therapy to apexification for treating immature necrotic teeth. The evaluation included a thorough examination of both clinical and radiographic outcomes assessing the success rates and complications. Out of the 850 identified articles, 15 studies were chosen for comprehensive analysis. Notable dissimilarities were not identified between the revascularization therapy and apexification groups concerning parameters such as rates of periapical healing, overall effectiveness/invalidation, and apical closure. However, concentrating on measurable factors, it became clear that the revascularization treatment group displayed a notable rise in root length compared to the apexification group. Both revascularization endodontic therapy and apexification demonstrated effectiveness in addressing periapical periodontitis healing and open apex closure. Pulp revascularization stood out for its notable efficacy in enhancing root elongation and thickening, all while having a reduced likelihood of treatment being deemed ineffective overall.

Context: In India, the use of social security schemes by the rural population has not been evaluated with much consideration. The awareness of these social security programs plays a vital role in their use. Aims: This research was conducted to evaluate the awareness among the rural population regarding government-initiated social security schemes and to provide recommendations based on the results of the study. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural health care center. Methods and Material: A sample of 250 individuals in the rural health care center of a dental college was subjected to a questionnaire regarding the awareness of the government-launched social security schemes—Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Statistical Analysis Used: The study data were analyzed by Epi InfoTM 7 software package. Descriptive statistics were assessed and differences between the two groups were compared using the Chi-square test and the P value of < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: In the present study, 212 rural people were aware of any one of the recently initiated social security schemes, and the awareness level of these social security schemes was higher in those with age more than 30 years, males, literates, and classes 3 and 4 economic groups of population. Conclusions: The rural population's knowledge of the government's social security schemes is strong, and it is affected by people's age, gender, literacy level, and socioeconomic status.

Context: The reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals (O2 •), hydroxyl radicals (OH•), and hydrogen peroxide play a vital role in the pathogenesis of human cancer development and have become one of the areas of key interest in the field of biochemical analysis. Aims: The present study was designed to determine the significance of oxidative stress and levels of nitric oxide (NO) in patients with premalignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), by evaluating the levels of lipid peroxidation products, antioxidants, and NO products. Settings and Design: The present study was conducted on 280 patients for 2 years. These patients were divided into 4 groups, Group I (n = 70, control), Group II (n = 70, oral submucous fibrosis), Group III (n = 70, OSCC), and Group IV (n = 70, OL). Subjects and Methods: The levels of lipid peroxidation products, antioxidants, and NO products were determined by colorimetric methods. Statistical Analysis Used: Paired t-test was used to compare the mean. Results: Lipid peroxidation products such as lipid hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde and NO products such as nitrite (NO2–), nitrate (NO3–), and total nitrite (TNO2–) were significantly elevated, whereas enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants were significantly lowered in OSCC, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral leukoplakia when compared to normal healthy participants. The P values were calculated and came as statistically significant (<0.05). Conclusions: Antioxidant enzyme impairment and NO status may be considered as one of the factors responsible for oral cancer pathogenesis and may serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for minimizing malignant transformation in oral premalignant disorders.

Context: Adolescent maltreatment is a state of mental, physical, economic, and sexual abuse experienced by a person under the age of 18 and is a crime that prevails globally. Aims: The aim of this online study was to evaluate the level of awareness and epidemiology of young generation of rural region toward adolescent maltreatment at Kanpur rural region, which can be used as a guideline for planning future interventions. Settings and Design: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional online study. Subjects and Methods: The study was done on 545 rural secondary school adolescent in 1 month period, using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software and appropriate statistical tests and logistic regression analysis. Chi-square was applied, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 545 adolescent (60%) were boys. The most common domains of adolescent maltreatment among female adolescent were neglect (29.5%), psychological (39%), physical (17.9%), and sexual (16.1%), and among male adolescent, these were neglect (36.8%), psychological (26.9%), physical (24.2%), and sexual (6.2%). Demographic variables included substance abuse of parents, father's education, parents living status, and having other jobs, which were significantly related variables to adolescent maltreatment and neglect (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Adolescent maltreatment and neglect challenges in India need to be considered carefully and widely, particularly among the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and socioeconomically backward populations of rural communities where adolescent protection systems are not fully established.

Introduction: Menopause is found to be associated with several adverse changes in the oro-facial complex, which may affect neural mechanisms because of attribution of the estrogen imbalance. Aim: The present study was conducted on female patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and was either in the peri-menopausal or menopausal age groups. The aim of the present study was to find out the incidence of trigeminal neuralgia in peri-menopausal and menopausal females. Material and Methods: In 2 years period, a total of 169 women patients with clinically diagnosed trigeminal neuralgia were included in the study. Based on neuralgic symptoms and gynecologist confirmation, selected patients were subdivided into groups based on age which were further subdivided into perimenopause and menopause. Collected data was tabulated and calculations were made with SPSS v21 and Chi-square test. Results: In the present study, 70.4% of patients were of 46–55 years of age which was the maximum proportion. Trigeminal neuralgia was more common in the age group of 46–55 years (82.2%), and the incidence of neuralgic pain was more common in the lower jaws (75.1%) and the right side of the face. In the present study, the lower jaw (79.8) was commonly involved as compared to the upper jaws in both perimenopausal (67.2%) and menopausal women (85.9%). Conclusion: This study stated that trigeminal neuralgia affects more commonly the older age group with a high incidence in postmenopausal women as compared to the perimenopausal women, where the lower jaw is more commonly affected in older and postmenopausal females.

Context: Artificial intelligence (AI) is focused on understanding the essence of human intelligence and developing smart artifacts that can perform the tasks that intelligence is said to entail when performed by humans. Aims: The aim of the study was to understand medical students views, understanding and level of confidence in working on AI and explore if AI influences their career intentions with specific regard to radiology. Settings and Design: 401 medical students of two medical colleges were included. Subjects and Methods: Four and one medical students of two medical colleges were included to complete an anonymous electronic survey consisting of Likert and dichotomous questions. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed with simple descriptive statistics in frequency and percentages. Results: In this study, 89.11% was the response rate of participants and majority (30.9%) of medical students strongly agreed about the awareness of AI. Nearly 36.3% of the medical students disagreed that they were less likely to consider a career in radiology due to AI. Around 29% of medical students strongly agreed for the scope of integration of AI in medical education of India. Conclusions: Medical students recognize the significance of AI and are eager to get involved. AI medical college curriculum should be broadened and upgraded. Students must be provided with practical use cases and drawbacks of AI so that they may not feel discouraged from pursuing radiology.

Context: We examined the content of YouTube™ videos on oral cancer and evaluated their usefulness in promoting the early detection of oral cancer. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the videos available on YouTube™ related to dentistry and the oral cancer. Settings and Design: An analytic observation was performed. Subjects and Methods: The top 245 English-language videos on oral cancer with at least 300 views were analyzed. Demographics of videos, including target audience, source, country of origin, content, number of views, time watched, average views, duration, like/dislike ratio, and two researchers independently assessed the videos for usefulness in promoting the early detection of oral cancer. Statistical Analysis Used: Total video information and quality index (VIQI) scores were calculated, consisting information, accuracy, quality, and precision indices. Nonparametric tests were used for the analysis. Results: A total of 245 YouTube™ videos (147) patient-oriented educational videos and 98 testimonial videos) were analyzed. There was no significant association between video usefulness and viewing rate, viewers' involvement, or video duration, and the most valuable videos were ranked last on the viewing list. When compared to videos produced by professional organizations or health-care professionals, videos uploaded by individual users were less useful. A comparison of the indices according to the relevance of the videos showed statistically significant differences in the videos' information and precision indices and total VIQI scores. Conclusions: By uploading beneficial videos and referring patients to credible information sources, health-care professionals, academic institutions, and professional organizations can improve the content of YouTube™ regarding oral cancer.

Context: It is essential to identify cancer at an early stage to reduce the disease's morbidity and mortality. Noninvasive methods such as serum and saliva analysis, in comparison to existing biopsy, can provide a cost-effective approach for screening a large population. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate sialic acid (SA), protein, and sugar in serum and saliva of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with controls to assess their role as a diagnostic marker. Settings and Design: Unstimulated whole saliva and serum were collected. Subjects and Methods: Unstimulated whole saliva and serum were collected. From sixty controls and 78 squamous cell carcinoma patients. Serum and salivary total sialic acid, total protein, and total sugar estimation were carried out. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were tabulated and analyzed statistically using the t-square test, Pearson correlation with SPSS 21 version statistical software. Results: A significant rise in the salivary and serum SA as well serum protein was observed in OSCC study patients as compared to controls. Salivary protein, serum, and salivary sugar also show significant results. Furthermore, serum and salivary SA levels were found to be significantly increased with histopathological grading. Conclusions: The present study showed a significant and gradual increase in serum and salivary SA, protein, and sugar from control to oral cancer. From this study, we can suggest that SA can be used as a reliable biomarker in saliva for screening and early detection of oral cancer.

Context: Dental caries remains a major public health problem, affecting 60-90% of school children. The assessment of dental caries and fluorosis in endemic fluoride areas will facilitate in assessing the relation between fluoride concentrations in water with dental caries, dental fluorosis simultaneously. Aims: The aim of the following study is to assess the dental caries and dental fluorosis prevalence among 8–16-year-old school children in Kanpur rural region, Uttar Pradesh. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: School children, residing in the village since childhood, in the age group of 8–16 years were selected from government schools. School children were categorized in five age groups and were examined for oral examination of available 8–16-year-old children fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria was carried out to assess dental caries and fluorosis. Statistical Analysis Used: The influence of demographic characteristics on caries and fluorosis was tested using Chi square test, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA wherever applicable. Spearman rank correlation was applied to analyze the relationship between decayed teeth and dental fluorosis. Results: The caries prevalence was found to be 84.7%. Out of 1565 school children, 53.4% were males and 46.5% were females. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be 87.5%.The fluorosis prevalence increased with increasing fluoride concentration with no difference in gender and age distribution. Conclusions: Children and teenagers are the most typically damaged by dental caries and fluorosis, it is necessary for the management of the prevalence of caries and fluorosis.

Context: Critical appraisal (CA) is a way of determining and interpreting information by objectively considering its significance, results, and importance to an individual's work, and it is based on careful empirical assessment.Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of CA exercises on the quality of preclinical tooth preparation skills and the confidence level of undergraduate dental students.Settings and Design: This was a randomized control study conducted at a private dental college in Kanpur rural region, Uttar Pradesh.Subjects and Methods: One hundred and forty-three student volunteers were randomly divided into CA (CA; n = 78) and control (C; n = 65) groups. Both groups were given a conventional lecture and video demonstrations; the CA group also gave CA exercises. Six evaluators assessed the incisor, canine, premolar, and molar preparations made by all students.Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics were used to describe the groups across all parameters. An independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the eight parameters of the two groups.Results: The mean overall scores assigned to the CA group by all evaluators were significantly higher (independent t-test, P < 0.05) than the C group for incisor (CA: 6.19 ± 1.28, C: 5.34 ± 1.86), canine (CA: 5.88 ± 1.37, C: 4.94 ± 1.68), premolar (CA: 5.88 ± 1.09, C: 4.73 ± 1.19), and molar (CA: 5.94 ± 1.63, C: 5.39 ± 0.04) teeth. The CA group also demonstrated a significant increase in self-confidence over that of the C group (repeated measures general linear model F = 7.886, P = 0.0421).Conclusions: Critical assessment activities greatly enhanced undergraduate dental students' preclinical tooth preparation abilities, as well as their confidence level.

Context: Medicine is a noble profession, but the practice of medicine has been influenced by the transition in the relationship between doctor and patient and the advertising of the modern healthcare professional. The basic principles of medicine insist that doctors should be aware of the numerous medico-legal concerns that aid in documenting patient management information properly. Aims: The aim is to evaluate the knowledge and awareness on medico-legal Issues among Medical and Dental College Health Professionals of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health professionals. Subjects and Methods: A total of 316 health professionals (161 medical and 155 dental) participated in the study. A structured, closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire was used for the collection of data. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test was used to compare the awareness of medico-legal issues between medical and dental health professionals Results: Among the 316 health professionals, 90.9% of medical and 99.3% of dental professionals were aware about the informed consent, 18.6% of medical and 10.3% of dental professionals had awareness about the Consumer Protection Act and only 18.6% of medical and 9.6% of dental professionals had attended any CDE/CME program regarding Medico-legal issues. Conclusions: The results revealed that there was little knowledge of medico-legal concerns among the participants. There is therefore an immediate need to update the understanding of these issues to be legally more secure.

CONTEXT: Senior citizens with comorbidities are more vulnerable to severe illness and associated high mortality rate due to the prevailing pandemic. AIMS: The aim of this online survey is to evaluate the psychological stress, awareness, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and the infection control measures taken by the senior citizens. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present study involves an online descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted at a senior citizen home. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The questionnaire of the study consists of 20 questions and was performed among 84 older adults of two senior citizen homes supervised by nongovernment organizations through video conferencing on WhatsApp. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Participant's response was calculated and expressed as percentages and frequency, with the mean values. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of senior citizens responded to the study, and 91.6% accepted phobic anxiety due to COVID-19 lockdown, while 97.6% reported behavioral disorders. Majority of the senior citizens (96.4%) had awareness regarding COVID-19 infection, 97.6% were aware of water and hand sanitization, while 98.8% of the respondents had a positive response toward COVID-19 protection practice in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness regarding COVID-19 was found to be satisfactory among the senior citizens, although psychological counseling and more precautions are required to make them feel secure from the current pandemic scenario.

Aim: The first communication with a healthcare professional is critical for determining the correct diagnosis, particularly when it comes to patients’ description of symptoms. This study aimed at exploring the primary symptoms observed in oral submucous fibrosis patients with non-specific complaints visiting outpatient department and pan shop at Kanpur, India. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving a two-stage sampling to select clinically diagnosed oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) patients from the outpatient department and pan shop customers (PSCs) at rural healthcare centers. A total of 321 participants were selected based on convenience sampling. Patient demographics, history of relevant habits with a period, and socioeconomic status were all documented. The extent of mouth opening was used to grade OSF cases. Data were analyzed using MedCalc Version 19.7.2 with χ2, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and t-tests used, as appropriate, to calculate P-values. Results: Out of the 184 OSF-OPD patients, only 59 (32.06%) described relevant disease symptoms of OSF: in stage III, 28.5% or stage IV, 38.7%. One hundred and twenty-five patients (67.93%) reported chief complaints (CCs) unrelated to OSF, and all of these cases were diagnosed with an early stage of OSF (stage I: 72.41% and stage II: 61.53%). Out of the total 137 PSCs, 74 PSCs have had prior dental consultations, but only 44 (32.11%) people had sought medical help because of OSF-related CCs. Conclusion: A limited number of studies were conducted in this area, particularly in the rural population of central India. Our study found that considerable amount of main complaints from OSF patients was unrelated to their symptoms. There is insufficient knowledge of OSF symptoms among rural population, which further restricts early detection of the disease.

Context: Scientific research is an indispensable part of health-care curricula and a crucial exercise to help evolve clinician's research adroitness. Aims: The survey was planned to gauge and assess the postgraduates (PGs) dental students knowledge, attitude, and interest toward scientific research and to determine the factors and their perception for the dearth of research interest. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based research was done after the approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee and obtaining written informed consent from participants. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 224 (1st year, 2nd year, and 3rd year PGs) dental students of a private dental college in Kanpur city with a prevalidated structured questionnaire on the research principles was developed, and the students were asked to fill the questionnaire. Results: In the present study, 73% of the PGs did not know the definition of the research hypothesis. Ninety-two percent of PGs do not know the significance of scale 0–5 in researches, and 75% of PGs were unaware of the value of taking approval for conducting a research study. These results were statistically significant (P < 0.05). PGs have not participated in any research projects during their under-graduation or internship (93%) nor have written any scientific publication (94%), and the results obtained were statistically significant. The lack of time due to the vast curriculum of PG students (55%) and lack of interest (52%) were the personal reasons, whereas inadequate financial support (47%) and lack of time (49%) were among the institutional reasons for not conducting the research. Conclusions: A positive attitude but with a deficient level of knowledge and interest in context to research was found among PG dental students. Various factors such as vast PG syllabus, lack of time, deficient financial support, and lack of proper seemed to be the barriers in pursuing research.

CONTEXT: Countries were left ravaged as the fastest increasing path of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection, hence the epidemic misconceptions surrounding the path of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the populations. According to the latest national AIDS management organization survey on HIV/AIDS, North central India is regarded as low awareness and low prevalence area. AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and comfort regarding HIV/AIDS among Kanpur Dehat rural school educators. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out on a total of 110 rural school educators of government and private schools. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A pretested, self-structured, close-ended questionnaire was administered that consisted of 30 questions. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The information gathered was incorporated in a foundational way and t-test was applied and P value was determined. RESULTS: Among 110 school educators, females were more in number (56.36%). Private school educators scored more mean (standard deviation) in terms of knowledge (68 ± 5.83), attitude (50 ± 5.82), and comfort (49 ± 6.60) when compared to government school educators. Government school educators were uncertain about methods of transmitting AIDS. Maximum school educators were unaware of the different myths concerning AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge, attitude, and comfort of rural school educators among the government school teachers were found to be unsatisfactory. Information is an effort to improve the high-risk conduct of every illness and to build an understanding of HIV/AIDS. We will seek to increase awareness among educators of rural schools by holding workshops at regular intervals and enhancing their comprehension.

Context: Dental personals are more prone to acquire infections through saliva and aerosols. Surgical masks (SMs) are used by dental professionals to reduce microorganism shedding from the mouth, nose, and face of the patient. Aims: This aim of the study is to assess the bacterial and fungal presence and their prevalence over the contaminated surgical mask in dental practice. Settings and Design: This study was conducted with sample size 240 used surgical masks collected from 130 dental personnel. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with analysis involved inoculation of external and internal surfaces in an enrichment media for isolation of bacteria and fungi. Group of isolated bacteria and fungi were preliminarily identified by morphology and using Gram's stain and lacto-phenol cotton blue mediums. Data were analyzed using paired t-test; the significant level of P < 0.050. Results: Microbiological analysis of samples revealed bacteria Staphylococci 26.35% as a predominant species followed by Pseudomonas 17.82% and Streptococci 15.50%. Aspergillus fungal species was also present in 6.97%. Mean ± SD of bacterial and fungal contamination on inside/outside area of the used masks was 48 ± 26 and 180 ± 110 cfu/ml/piece and 14 ± 6 and 32 ± 13 cfu/ml/piece, respectively, P < 0.001. The used surgical masks from dental department personnel working outpatient dental department had relatively higher bacterial and fungal contamination than the other dental departments. Conclusions: To reduce a load of microorganism contamination in the clinical environment, more awareness campaigns should be implemented in daily routine and air quality of dental departments should be improved with necessary protective measures.

Pharmacovigilance is a term of pharmacology which helps in the observation, evaluation, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects, mostly long-acting and short-acting adverse affect of various medicines.To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among dental students and professionals about pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reactions, a cross-sectional questionnaire study close-ended questioner based study among 190 dental postgraduate students and dental practitioners was performed.47.8% postgraduates students and 37.1% dental practitioners knew pharmacovigilance while 85.5% postgraduates and 83.4% dental practitioners were unaware of adverse drug reactions.No postgraduate student and 96.6% dental practitioners were not trained to report adverse drug reactions.Insufficient knowledge about pharmacovigilance and poor application to use adverse drug reaction in clinical work was common and more academic exposure is required to increase awareness and safe use of drugs to save more lives of patients in a day to day practice.

Context: Lipids are the main cell membrane components important for different biological functions including cell growth and division of normal and malignant tissues. Low lipid values in cancer, precancer lesion, and condition may be due to of lipid peroxidation and also lipids play a key role in the higher utilization of lipids including total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) for new membrane biogenesis. Aims: The present study was aimed to assess the independency and comparison of serum lipid profile and blood glucose level in patients with oral carcinoma and precancerous lesions and conditions. Settings and Design: The total sample sizes of 180 individuals were chosen in a 2-year duration: 60 were diagnosed with leukoplakia/oral submucous fibrosis, 60 with oral carcinoma, and 60 of the control group. Subjects and Methods: The serum triglycerides (TGs) were estimated by GPO-PAP End Point Assay method, total cholesterol (TC) by CHOD-PAP, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by PEG-CHOD-PAP End Point Assay method with lipid clearing factors. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very LDL (VLDL) levels were calculated using Friedewald's equation. Statistical Analysis Used: Collected data were statistically calculated by Student's t-test and by Chi-square test with SPSS version 17. All values were considered statistically significant for a value of P < 0.05. Results: This study showed that parameters TC, TG, and HDL of lipid profile were reduced in the oral precancerous study group as compared to the oral carcinoma study group, whereas in all the study groups, no statistically changes were found in LDL, VLDL, fasting blood sugar, and postprandial blood sugar levels. Conclusions: Low serum value of TC, TG, and HDL may be the indicator for the increased risk of developing precancer diseases and oral cancer in healthy individuals with tobacco habits. Low lipid profile parameters can be used as diagnostic markers in assessment of oral cancer and precancer along with other parameters of biochemical markers.

Context: Hand washing by a dental health professional before having contact with a patient's oral cavity is considered a fundamental dental clinic infection control measure. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate bar soap and liquid soap from dental departments for microbial contamination while it was in use. Settings and Design: This exploratory, cross-sectional study was carried out to identify microorganisms' presence in handwashing with liquid and bar soap at clinical and nonclinical departments in a dental college. Subjects and Methods: In the 2-month study period, all the dental students, dental faculty, and the other auxiliaries present were the participants, and a total of 35 handwashing place samples from 15 different dental departments were collected. The test tube samples of bar soap and liquid soap were all transferred to the microbiology laboratory for microbiological analysis of the samples. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using a one-sample paired t-test and independent Student's t-test. Results: Nine different microbial species were identified. In both soaps, the abundance of Staphylococcus aureus was higher as compared to that of other microorganisms. Further, in both soaps, the mean number of microorganisms increased statistically significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) at post-use as compared to at pre-use except Aspergillus niger in liquid soap. However, the post-use mean abundance of microorganisms was found similar (P > 0.05) between the two groups (soaps). Conclusions: The microbial load of the in-use bar soap and liquid soap constituted a mixed flora of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, aerobes, anaerobes, and fungi. The results indicate that the bar soap under “in-use” condition harbors more of microorganisms as compared to that of liquid soap, and handwashing with such a soap may lead to the spread of infection.